“Existence is resistance” has become one of the most recognizable phrases in LGBTQ+ activism. But what does it actually mean to the people living it every day?
At Pittsburgh Pride, QBurgh asked community members to reflect on the phrase and share what it means to them personally. Their answers were thoughtful, emotional, and deeply connected to the realities of being LGBTQ+ in today’s political climate.
For many queer and trans people, simply existing openly can feel like an act of defiance. Living authentically, expressing joy, taking up space, and refusing to hide are actions that challenge systems and ideologies that have long sought to erase LGBTQ+ lives.
The phrase itself speaks to a history of resistance. Queer and trans communities have always faced efforts to marginalize, criminalize, and silence them. Yet generation after generation, people have continued to show up, build community, care for one another, and demand the right to exist on their own terms.
Today, as lawmakers across the country continue to target LGBTQ+ rights, particularly the rights of transgender people, the message remains as relevant as ever. Resistance doesn’t always look like a protest sign or a rally. Sometimes it looks like introducing yourself with your correct name. Holding your partner’s hand in public. Wearing clothes that reflect who you are. Choosing joy despite the forces working against it.
The voices featured in this video remind us that resistance is not only about survival. It’s also about thriving.
Pride has always been both a celebration and a demonstration. It honors the activists who fought for visibility while creating space for future generations to imagine lives filled with freedom, dignity, and possibility.